Most recipes call for gobs of butter, cream, and cheese, which simply doesn’t work unless you’re following a particularly high-fat diet.

It doesn’t have to be this way, though.

As you’ll see, you can replace those high-calorie ingredients with “lighter” alternatives and get something just as tasty.

For example, the Perfect Mashed Sweet Potatoes recipe has just 2 grams of fat per serving, the Garlic Mashed Potatoes (with a Secret Ingredient) uses cream cheese to boost the flavor with fewer calories, and the Meatloaf Cupcakes with Mashed Potato are perfect for when you need more protein.

Enjoy!

Perfect Mashed Potatoes

Picture courtesy of Simply Recipes

If you’re after a basic recipe that’s the picture perfect version of mashed potatoes, you’ll love this heavenly number. Okay I can’t help myself, when it comes to making the perfect mash, the secret is in the type of potatoes you choose – the best ones being yukon golds.

They’re lower in starch, have a naturally creamy texture, and a buttery flavor that makes even the simplest mashed potato recipes taste amazing.

Garlic Mashed Potatoes (with a Secret Ingredient)

Picture courtesy of The Garlic Diaries

I bet you’re dying to know just one thing – what is this secret ingredient that makes mashed potato oh-so-good?

Aside from the aforementioned yukon potatoes, there are actually two things…cream cheese and a chicken base. With just a hint of cream cheese you get a silky, creamy depth to your mash. And the chicken base combo adds a depth of flavor and complexity to your dish that will change the way you think about your boring old mash forever. And of course, the addition of garlic really gives this mash a hefty kick.

Very Best Mashed Potatoes

If you’ve ever been to a restaurant where they serve the lightest, creamiest mashed potatoes and wondered why you haven’t been able to do the same, listen up.

According to Chef Cory York the secret is steaming the potatoes, not boiling them.

When you gently cook the potatoes, they end up creamy, while the boiling can make them gummy and gluey. The second secret is a potato ricer that gently crushes the potatoes into a fine mixture, so you end up with the smoothest, creamiest texture.

Cheesy Mashed Potato Puffs

Another great way to utilize your leftover mashed potatoes is to turn them into crispy, creamy, cheesy, bite-sized mashed potato puffs. Keep these handy as your breakfast, lunch, or dinner side dish.

You can play around with size and presentation by using regular muffin pans, mini muffin pans, or even rectangular or square cake tins that will produce mashed potato puff slices. And play around with the herbs, spices, and type of cheese to add further richness to your puffs.

Perfect Mashed Sweet Potatoes

If you’re after something a little sweeter, a mash made of sweet potato will do the trick. Serve alongside turkey meatloaf or chicken and a side of greens for the perfectly balanced meal.

And with a twist of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg added to the mix, it almost feels like a dessert rather than a savory side. But it’s not overpowering like you’d expect with pumpkin pie, it’s subtle and delicious.

Mashed Potato Cups

Picture courtesy of Taste of Home

There’s nothing fancy to be found here but if you don’t want to toss out your leftover mashed potatoes, these potato cups can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Since they can be frozen, these also make the perfect make-ahead side dish. Thaw them when you’re ready and you’ll be eating within 20 minutes – just enough time to pan fry your favorite source of protein.

Meatloaf Cupcakes with Mashed Potato

For an all-in-one, grab-n-go meal, whip up a batch of these meatloaf mash cupcakes, which contain a load of hidden veggies tucked inside.

Compared to a full meatloaf, which takes around one hour to cook, in 20 minutes flat you can eat these as your main dish or serve them up as a snack.

And there’s no need to get fancy with the mash. You can use a piping tube or simply pile it on and fluff it up with a fork – delish! These can also be frozen for up to 3 months, by wrapping the fully made-up meatloaf and mash cupcake in cling wrap.

Serves 8

Ingredients

Meatloaf cupcakes:

1 lb. ground beef

1 brown, white or yellow onion, grated

2 small carrots, grated, or any other vegetable additions of your choice